Programme for NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region

An annual budget of approximately DKK 5 million has been earmarked for the Nordic Council of Ministers' Funding Programme for NGOs in the Baltic Sea Region (the NGO programme). NGOs are invited to apply for funding from the programme for international co-operation projects.

Applicants should read the NGO programme before submitting a funding application.

Deadline and special requirements

NGO's are invited to apply for funding under the NGO Programme for project activities.

The programme defines NGOs, or Non-Governmental Organisations, as non-profit, publicly anchored, civic organisations that are neither owned nor controlled by public authorities, nor by private companies, and which have an open and democratic structure.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must fulfil the eligibility criteria stipulated in the NGO programme (see below).

Projects under the auspices of the NGO programme must have - including the applicant - at least one partner in the Nordic Region, one partner from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Poland and one partner from Northwest Russia or Belarus. In other words, at least three NGOs must be involved in a project for it to be eligible for funding. Proposals including more than three partners and partners from more than one Nordic country will be viewed favourably.

Applications must include details of the NGOs' own input towards launching and running the project. Proposals with a part of the budget financed by the applicant or a third party will be viewed favourably. Applicants in projects which are considered for funding will be contacted by the Nordic Council of Ministers for possible adjustments of the project.

It is expected that approved projects can be started no later than 3 months following the decision date.

The project must help expand the capacity of NGOs, especially in Northwest Russia and Belarus. The application must clearly show how the project will support NGOs in Northwest Russia and Belarus.

Project planning must take cognisance of the gender and quality perspective.

In order to generate synergy effects, the Nordic Council of Ministers will seek as far as possible to link up partnership projects in the same or similar subject areas.

The applicant must clearly describe the objectives of the project and how it is planned to achieve them. The objectives must correspond to those stipulated in:

The application must not be designed to help fund the regular activities, administration or projects of other organisations. Funding should be focused on launching new initiatives that should have the possibility to continue even after the specific project has come to an end.

The applicant must describe how achieved results will be used and how the project co-operation can be sustained also when funding from the Nordic Council of Ministers has ended.

Funding will not be given to infrastructure projects, e.g. for purchasing IT equipment or to cover construction costs.

Applicants must clearly state the duration of the project and whether the activities involved will last for more than one year. The Nordic Council of Ministers funds projects lasting one year and projects lasting for several years, however actual grants are only given for one year at a time.

All projects receiving funding must submit a final report to the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Projects stretching over more than one year must submit annual funding applications to the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Processing applications

For the application to be processed it will need to fulfil the eligibility criteria:

The eligibility criteria that must be fulfilled by all applicants:

The application form and budget submitted electronically in due time and completed in accordance with instructions, with corresponding annexes and supporting documents attached.

The objectives correspond to those stipulated in NCM guidelines for co-operation with Northwest Russia and the Baltic countries.

The projects take cognisance of a gender equality perspective.

Relevance for the civil society in Russia and Belarus.

The applicant and relevant partners are NGOs, defined as non-profit, publicly anchored, civic organisations, that are neither owned nor controlled by public authorities, nor by private companies, and have an open and democratic structure.

The proposal include at least one partner in the Nordic Region, one partner from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania or Poland and one partner from Northwest Russia or Belarus.

An advisory group of Nordic representatives will assist the Council of Ministers in the review process. The selection will be based on a number of selection criteria used by the Nordic Council of Ministers to place proposals eligible for funding in order of preference, which in brief are:

Relevance to the NCM NGO programme and its specific priorities in line with these guidelines:

Clear description of the problem to be addressed and its relevance to the programme.

Consistency of the proposal

Coherence between the problem(s), objectives(s), activity(ies) and result(s).

Quality of approach and sustainability.

Quality of approach and sustainability

Coherence between the planned project results and proposed methodology.

Clear division of tasks and responsibilities.

Description of the actual sustainability of project results.

Description of follow-up activities.

Applicant/partners

Proposals including more than three partners and partners from more than one Nordic country.

Coherence between the project objectives and partnerships.

Level of involvement of all partners within the project and during the project design process.

Level of co-financing.*

Quality of result

Expected results are concrete with verifiable indicators attached.

Cost-efficiency, including consideration related to overheads.

All applicants will be informed about the selection process.

Financial framework

Individual grants will vary in size according to the scope of the planned activity, number of partners, etc., but usually do not exceed 500 000 DKK annually.

Appendices to the application form (detailed timetable, detailed budget, status/Final report (if the organisation has previously received funding from the NCM), and letters of commitment from partner organisations) must be submitted with the form but as separate files.

* Co-funding may be given as a monetary contribution, either directly by the applicant or indirectly through a third party (organisation/partner/donor/authority) towards the project. To be considered as co-funding the contribution need to be directly linked to the budgetary framework provided and be an integral part of the application and the specific activities within this and provided before or during the implementation period. In-kind contributions, such as use of space, staff time or equipment, are not considered as co-funding.